Home

Recipes

TitleAuthorNotes
Sahlab (salep, saloop, salop) سحلبKhalid

Sahlab is a popular winter drink in Egypt in cafes, as well as in homes.

The beverage is a thick creamy white hot drink.

The main ingredient is the Salep, which is a white flour like powder obtained from the dried tubers of a wild orchid, Orchis mascula.

The flour is used in other Turkish cooking, such as the thick dondurma icecream.

The main ingredient in the flour is mucilage, which gives sahlab its thick characteristic.

In Egypt, salep powder is kept and used for years. However, in Turkey, it is seasonal, and consumption of last year's crop after the new year's crop is out is frowned upon, much like the kastana (Marron glace).

Resources

  • Salep orchid at botanical.com.
  • 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica article on salep.
  • King's American dispensary on salep.
  • An Australian woman writes about salep, contains a recipe.
  • Salon.com article on salep dondurma ice cream.
Carob (Locust bean) drink Kharroob خروبKhalid

Carob is the legume fruit of the Carob tree, Ceratonia siliqua. It is also known as Locust bean, kharoob, and in Arabic ????.

The fruit is consumed in Egypt as a snack, and used to make a refreshing cold drink popular in shops and street vendors.

Resources

  • Columbia Encyclopedia on Carob.

  • Purdue Horticulture on new crops on Carob.

 

 
Molasses with Tahini عسل أسود بالطحينةKhalid

This is a snack/dip as well as a dessert.

In Egypt, this is eaten as breakfast or an evening meal.

Of note:

  • As you mix the ingredients, watch the interesting marks the dark molasses makes in the light colored tahini. Fun for kids to watch.

 
Ful Medames with eggs فول مدمس بالبيض المقليshimaThis dish combines eggs and fava beans. You can try unbeaten eggs fried sunny side up.
Cheese omelet اوملت بالجبنةshimaThis is a European dish that made its way to Egyptian cities. Romano cheese is very popular in Egypt and known as Roumy or Torki cheese.?
Shakshouka شكشوكةshimaShakshouka is an egg and tomatoes dish.
ُEggah عجةshimaThis is a special omelete style breakfast dish.
Rice with meat طاجن لحمة و رزshimaThis is a combination of rice and meat.
Rice with liver رز بالكبدةshimaFor a variation, beef liver or chopped beef kidneys can be used with or in lieu of liver. Cook the same way.
Rice with Tomatoes رز أحمر بالطماطمshimaA different color and taste for this rice dish.
Rice with milk طاجن رزshimaCooking rice with milk in earthenware gives it a unique flavor.
Semi-fried Rice أرز محمرshimaRice is served in many ways in Egypt. This one is brownish and tasty.
Stuffed potatoes with meat بطاطس محشية باللحمshimaA delicious dish for a different kind of potato.
Baked chicken with potato and bechamel صينية فراخ بالبطاطس و البشاملshimaThis dish is a complete meal. Just add salad and you are done.
Minced Meat Pastry / Rokak رقاق باللحم المفرومshimaThis is a meat pastry dish.
Rabbit ارانبshima

Rabbits are raised in homes, and commercially, and their meat is considered a delicacy.
Chicken Shawerma شاورمة فراخshima

Shawerma is originally a Turkish "street" dish .

This is a home version that does not need the rotating grill.?
Cream caramel كريم كاراميلshimaThis is originally a French desert, but is widely eaten in Egyptian cities.
Qamar El Din Pudding قمر الدينshimaNot only is the orange color of this recipe appealing, but it tastes great as well.
Egyptian Pumpkin Pie with bechamel قرع عسلي بالبشاملshimaThis is a sweet dessert that can be served warm or cold.